The Seattle Seahawks have a pretty big need at wide receiver behind superstar Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Rashid Shaheed hasn't met expectations, Tory Horton is still developing, and Cooper Kupp is showing his age. With the trade deadline in our rearview mirror, it's an offseason need that probably won't be addressed until the 2027 NFL draft.
Earlier this week, we featured a 2027 NFL mock draft that had the Seahawks taking Rutgers receiver KJ Duff at No. 17 overall. Well, things change fast during the predraft process. Duff underwent season-ending surgery for a high-ankle injury earlier this week, according to Pete Thamel.
Sources: Rutgers star wide receiver KJ Duff underwent season-ending high-ankle surgery this week. He’ll miss the remainder of the year.
He’s expected to resume full football activities in January. pic.twitter.com/At0SmvdHcU
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 11, 2026
It's an injury-related setback that'll undoubtedly have a big-time impact on Duff's predraft process. The big-bodied receiving prospect is unlikely to recover in time to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. Scouts who had fair questions about his agility probably won't get tangible answers.
Duff is a throwback boundary receiver who thrives in contested situations outside. The Seahawks would benefit from adding that type of wideout to their offense. But drafting Duff with a first-round pick would now come with considerable concerns.
It's a reminder that the predraft landscape is constantly changing. The Seahawks will continue assessing all avenues.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Potential Seahawks 2027 draft target undergoes season-ending surgery
